[Oldmanandhistoy]

Hi,

Can you use a bearing block; will save you a world of trouble?

John

Sorry didn’t realise you had a manual mill.:stickpoke

In that case I would defiantly go with drill and finish with an adjustable boring head (how I do it). The adjustable boring head with care will give very good control of the tolerance (fit) of the bearing.

Don’t forget to research the necessary fit from the bearing manufactures specifications.

Good luck,
John

[BobWarfield]

Depending on the side of the plate, a lathe will also do a very accurate job with a boring bar. It's effectively the same operation as with a boring head on a mill, except you're spinning the plate in the lathe chuck instead of a boring head.

Be careful that the press fit is not so tight as to damage the bearing. They're more delicate than you'd think.

Cheers,

BW

[shanon]

this is very tricking the right size hole may not really be the answer. Depending on this situation I would worry about too small, too large, and because its in alum. the wearability when the bearing fails. My suggestion would be to first mill out a square or rectangle recess in alum. plate to allow for a bearing cover to be drilled, tapped, and then attached flush with the face of the alum plate. this will allow more tolerance on the actual bearing hole aswell as easier replacement of ware bearings.